The Lib Dems, under Nick Clegg, pictured, could lose all of their MEPS in the European Elections, according to a leaked memo

The Liberal Democrats are preparing themselves to lose all of their MEPs in the European elections today, according to a leaked document advising top party figures how to react to the defeat.

It reveals they have been advised to say they ‘expected’ to lose up to all of their 12 representatives in Strasbourg and to simply say they are ‘disappointed’ with the poor result.

The embarrassing memo, leaked to the Guardian newspaper, reveals that in the event of the party winning none, or just one or two seats in the European elections, they should say: ‘Disappointed with the result but the party remains resolute and this was expected at this point in the electoral cycle.’

If the party clings on to two to three MEPs, senior Lib Dems have been advised to say it is ‘a good result considering the circumstances’.

And securing between three and five should be billed as ‘a very encouraging result … much better than almost everyone predicted’.

It suggests the party has even lower expectations than stated in public - with five seats considered to be the best case scenario.

This is a stark contrast with 2009 when, before they went into coalition with the Conservatives they picked up 11 MEPs and another defected to them a year later.